Preparing for the C&P Exam

Once of the steps in your claim involves being examined by a VA Doctor who will verify your medical condition so that the Reviewing Officer (RO) can make a final decision. This is also known as the Compensation and Pension Exam (C&P).

Not all claims require an in-person C&P exam. If you have enough medical evidence in your file to support your claim, they follow the Acceptable Clinical Evidence (ACE) process. This means that they will review your medical records and ask you to submit more evidence if needed, instead of asking you to have an exam.

There can be more than one C&P exam if your claim consists of more than one condition, if the condition requires a follow up examination or you request a decision review on your claim.

You should always be prepared for the C&P exam and attend it on the scheduled date and time. The VA will contact you to schedule the exam.

These are some things you can do to prepare for the exam:

Punctuality:
Arrive at least 15 minutes early for the exam.

What to Bring:
You don’t need to bring anything to the exam, but if you have additional evidence that could bolster your claim you should bring it.

How to Dress:
Dress comfortably for the exam. No need for a suite and tie.

Downplaying Symptoms:
Do not downplay your symptoms. This is the one time you have the opportunity to let them know just how much this is affecting your daily life. Let them know just how bad it is.

Assuming They Know Everything:
Don’t assume that the C&P Examiner knows everything. Even though they are supposed to be advocates for the veteran they often are not. Pay attention to the questions they’re asking and if it does not truly assess your situation provide them with more details.

Physical Exam:
During the exam the doctor will perform a basic physical exam (asking you to bend and touch your toes, move your arms and legs, etc.).

Additional Tests:
They may ask you to take additional tests such as X-rays and blood work.

DBQ:
They will ask you questions about your condition(s) based on the medical records in your file. This will be based on the specific Disability Benefits Questionnaire (DBQ) for your condition. Hence, you should look up the DBQ specific to your type of claim and use it to prepare yourself to answer the questions.

Below is an example of a DBQ: